Arsenal Transfers: Gunners pushing to complete Aaron Hickey deal

Arsenal are pushing hard in their pursuit of Bologna wing-back Aaron Hickey and the Gunners are hoping to make the Scotsman their first signing of the 2022 summer transfer window.

Full-back is one of the several areas Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster this summer and Hickey’s ability to play off both flanks means he’s an ideal target. Arsenal could do with superior cover at both right- and left-back.

While Hickey is more comfortable off the left, the young defender started five games at right wing-back for Bologna last season as he enjoyed a productive campaign in Serie A.

Arsenal pushing hard to make Bologna’s Aaron Hickey their first signing of the summer transfer window

https://twitter.com/now_arsenaI/status/1531913243572199424

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Hickey since the start of May and the Gunners are still believed to be hot on the Scot’s tail.

Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) writes that the club have submitted a €25m bid to Bologna for Hickey’s services. Arsenal are said to be ‘pressing heavily’ to complete the deal and it’s likely that the versatile full-back will soon bid farewell to the Rossublu.

Hickey himself recently hinted that a move away could be imminent after spending two years in Italy.

“I might want to challenge myself somewhere else and have a different experience. I do see a lot of talk. It’s nice to know there’s interest from other clubs, it gives you confidence. But you just keep your head down and focus on football,” the 19-year-old said.

Hickey will celebrate his 20th birthday on the opening day of the summer transfer window (June 10), and it appears for all money that he’ll soon be an Arsenal player despite the absence of concrete links. Gazzetta are certainly hit and miss on the transfer front.

Nevertheless, Hickey is the archetypal Arteta full-back with his comfort off both feet allowing him to perform a plethora of functions. The teenage Scot is incredibly dynamic, and his eye for goal was clear to see last season as he netted five times in Serie A.

Aston Villa were also said to be in the running for Hickey, but Bologna’s valuation of the defender has deterred the ambitious Villans.